PAISLEY, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 03: Kris Boyd chats with Hearts Head Coach Derek McInnes during a William Hill Premiership match between St Mirren and Heart of Midlothian at the SMiSA Stadium, on February 03, 2026, in Paisley, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Chris Sutton isn’t having the claim that everyone is out to scupper Hearts.
Derek McInnes has been pushing that claim since Wednesday night after his side beat Falkirk 3-0.
The Hearts boss seemed to pay more attention to Celtic’s win away to Motherwell, claiming that the stoppage time decision to award the hoops a penalty was disgusting.
That is the sort of comment that you’d expect from a fan on social media. Not from a manager live on Sky Sports.
Celtic’s penalty at Motherwell seems to have triggered an awful lot of people that don’t follow Scottish football very closely.
Sutton is involved every matchday with Sky Sports.
He knows the terrain, the undercurrents, the rivalries and issues.
SUTTON KNOWS THE SCRIPTS AND AGENDAS
Sky presenter Eilidh Barbour barely attempted to restrain Kris Boyd after Wednesday’s match. Boyd wasn’t alone on what was a fairly straightforward penalty decision.
Sutton watched it all unfold, writing in the Daily Record he explains:
Hearts have been an incredible story this season. What McInnes has achieved with a fraction of the budget of Celtic and Rangers is outstanding, no matter what happens today.
It’s obvious he is trying to create a siege mentality going into the final-day shootout and perhaps even putting a bit of pressure on the officials when it comes to the margins calls.
Fair play to him. It’s good psychology. But as for this idea that everyone – including the officials – is out to scupper him and his team? Do me favor.
The reaction to the handball call the other night has been ridiculous.
Was it a contentious decision? Yes. Can you see why the VAR officials got to that conclusion? Absolutely.
Sam Nicholson’s arm is over his shoulder and the ball hits his hand. Going by the letter of the law, John Beaton and Andrew Dallas had little choice.
It’s the timing of the flashpoint that has caused such an outcry – and proved my point about everyone rooting for Hearts.
Former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is among those rooting for Hearts. He has been in contact with McInnes throughout most of the season.
As Sutton says the outcry is all related to the timing of the penalty.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored his winning goal well after the final whistle in the Hearts v Falkirk match.
Hearts players and fans were waiting on news from Fir Park after their match had ended.
Little has been heard of the first half incident when Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward charged through the back of Daizen Maeda to intercept a pass from Callum McGregor.
Scottish VAR is clearly inferior to that used by UEFA and the EPL.
FIFA have blanked everyone at the SFA as they call in 170 officials for the biggest ever World Cup.
Don Robertson will referee today’s SPFL showdown with Kevin Clancy in the VAR room.
It would be a shock if they don’t feature in the post-match headlines.
the behaviour with the SKY presenter woman was truly disgraceful as she sat back and lost all control of the evening , and willingly , that pig’s ear boyd fly in to a rage and rant without any censor , i thought i was watching an add for turkey teeth with skin and hair flying out of the cnuts teepee , what a sham of a show run by the SKY dregs for a full hour rehashing the same old tripe from pig’s ear , that was disgraceful and they let it run on for an hour like repeats of a 60s show , i think i’ll watch the trivago add in future when eily comes on for the interval it’s a more civilized settings , Gwan ye cnuts !!!
Hail hail the Celts !!!
Boyd cannot hide his bitterness – fair play. However, in his role as a pundit he needs to get a grip on his emotions. Ally the tax dodger, who fleeced the old and new Rangers, drip feeds his poison down south. The ‘cheeky chappie’. There cannot be a commentator in Europe who retained his job, having openly said that he would not attend his teams match against their rivals, as he would breach religious hate laws. We have all seen McInnes singing the Billy Boys and again I have no problem with that but ‘dinnae’ play the East Coast victim of prejudice between Celtic and the SFA. Boyd, McCoist have no interest in Motherwell or Hearts – their bitter media storm comes from the thought of Celtic becoming Champions today. HH
Has there been any explanation as to why the elbow in the head seems to have been ignored? Wasn’t that the reason the Motherwell players arm went up in the first place? Am I missing something, is an elbow in the head no longer a punishable offence these days?these